Wool and whimsy in the frozen North.

Since we’re going to be moving, soon, the pure amount of junk we have has been weighing on my mind. There’s no Goodwill close by us, so it’s fairly inconvenient for us to donate anything, but it turns out that Janelle’s mom donates to the Lupus foundation regularly and Janelle offered to take whatever we wanted to get rid of over to her mom’s for donation.

I spent basically all afternoon going through our clothes, decorations, and craft supplies, and ended up with SIX giant garbage bags full of donations. I took this photo when I had just four.

I found a bunch of old straight needles and acrylic yarn I’ll never use, as well, so that went into the donation bag. One of those is all shoes, and two are all clothes. We really, really needed to clean stuff out. It’ll be so nice to not have to move with and find places for all of that crap! I know we have more we could donate, too- that was just from half of the bedroom and the craft room.

Janelle and I had a showing at the townhouse I want to rent, this morning, and I want it even more now. I applied on the spot and brought James and Cory their applications, and Cory’s going to pick up James and go apply with him in person tomorrow (since they have to have their IDs scanned). I’m really, really hoping our income is acceptable, since otherwise they have no reason to not allow us in. They do require income to be 3x rent, but with the freelance work Cory is doing and James’ temp work, we make easily that much… it’s just a matter of them accepting that as valid income. So, we’ll see. The very sweet and friendly landlady put a rush on my application, so hopefully we’ll know soon.

In the meantime, we’re going to have to find a place for ourselves, our cats, and the moving van to stay overnight between move-out on the 30th and move-in on the 1st. Worst comes to worst, I found a hotel that may allow cats that’s about $130/night, and we could board the cats at a kennel for a lot cheaper (I’ve never done this, and I’m very protective of the kittehs, so I’m hesitant), but I’m really hoping one of our friends might be able to host us. It would be a huge hassle for them, though, so I’ll understand if no one can do that.

Yeah, I screwed up the sweater again. As before, it was misreading the directions. I do not usually have this issue, so either the pattern is deliberately removing information from itself until I have done a substantial portion beyond the missing part, or I’m just braindead.

This time, I started the hood. I picked up all of the stitches, knit the first five plain rows, and started increasing by 2 stitches every four rows (as I thought the pattern said). 6 inches of knitting and almost all of the increases later, I realized that it was looking small and I was low on stitches. So I reread that section of the pattern. Yep, I was supposed to do five repeats of 2 increases every other row before the 4 row repeats. Guh. So, again I ripped it out and started over from the plain section. I’m maybe 1/3 done with it now, and 1/3 of a hood is not just boring but hard to photograph, so I’ll show you a picture of it once it’s more substantial.

No new info in terms of the car, as yet (still not working, in other words, but likely fixable). In moving news, though, it looks like my brother will be able to live with us after all! He’ll be staying with his friend for a few months and paying a very small amount of rent at our place and his friend’s place, and then when he can move in with us he’ll pay more rent and help with the utilities. We’re going to look at a townhouse this week sometime, and based on the photos and video walkthrough, it looks perfect for the three of us, so I am really hoping it works out.

I spent the afternoon at my friend Kelly’s place, keeping her and her husband company while they packed for their move, and somehow the rest of the first and all of the second sleeve just flew off of my needles while I was there.

The only piece left is the hood, which is knit directly onto the front and back pieces. After that, all that’s left is seaming and the i-cord trim. I’ve already woven in most of the ends, just the v-insert ends left. I’m starting to feel like maybe it won’t be late after all! (And can I just say how glad I am to be done knitting 2 row stripes in four colors?)

In other knitting news, my father came online yesterday and was talking to me about how much he loves the socks I made him two years ago. He asked me how long they take to make, and then offered me a fair price (!!) for two pairs of socks! So this week sometime I’ll be buying the yarn for those. He wants a brown/black pair, for which I’m going to use this yarn, and a “Colorado Rockies purple” (baseball thing) pair, for which I found this yarn. I’m fairly pleased with that purple- I compared it to a photo of a Rockies player and the shade is spot on.

Now if anyone has good, interesting but not unmanly sock patterns that they like, please do let me know. I’ve already done the masonic lodge socks and (duh) my own two for his heels pattern, so I don’t want to do those again, but I’m up for anything else.

That’s our friend Garrett there on the keyboard, playing live for the first time with his band Fake Places. They were really pretty good! Garrett was incredible. The lead singer was a little flat/generally off key at times, but he’s new at performing, so we’ll cut him some slack. It was a really fun time, though. I got some video of their first song, for those that might be interested:

Got most of a sleeve done at Craft Night, tonight! All the ends are woven in, the increases are correct, all is good. Just a couple more inches of blue and the sleeve cap, and it’s on to sleeve #2.

I really love these colors. I’m still hoping to get this thing done by Owen’s birthday at the end of June, but with the move I’m not so sure. I mean, ideally, we’ll be moving some weekend near the end of June (if we can get our crap together enough to find a place before June 15 and sign a lease and all) since my boss is out the week of the end of June, so we can’t move then without huge hassles. Next week Cory will be working every night on this short-term gig he’s got going, so I’ll be knitting and packing as much as I can stand. We have too much stuff. I’m sure I’ll be saying that a lot before this is all over.

Hey, all you people who wear crocs all the time, and swear by them as being comfortable beyond all reason even if they are hideous! Yeah, you! Remember me? I used to question how anyone could ever wear something so stupid looking, and how they could possibly be comfortable when they’re made of plastic. I swore I’d never buy something so obviously dumb.

Well. I admit it. You’re right.

I got my crocs in the mail today, and they are incredibly comfortable. By far the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. They do get a little hot from the whole plastic thing, but not unbearably so (and I’m usually in a/c unless I’m at home, when I’m barefoot, so whatever).

It has increases in the right places and everything! I know it isn’t much, but that’s all just from this evening, so, y’know.

It’s raining! I’m hoping that’ll mean it cools off a bit, but who knows. The forecast doesn’t seem very hopeful. I suppose eventually I’ll get used to it again and be able to knit more. Also Thursday is Craft Night v 3.0, so hooray! Dedicated knitting time!